Australian greats George Gregan, David Campese, Ken Catchpole and Mark Ella are among 11 rugby union legends, with almost 500 caps between them, to be inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame.
Staged after the opening day of the inaugural International Rugby Board world conference in Dublin on Monday, the other inductees include Australians John Thornett and Tom Lawton snr.
Halfback Gregan, the most-capped player of all-time with 139 appearances to his name, was able to make it to the Irish capital to accept his accolade.
Campese, the other Wallaby to reach three figures after playing 101 times for his country, will receive his framed IRB Hall of Fame cap and pin at a later date in Australia alongside Catchpole, Thornett and Lawton, the latter posthumously.
Apart from winger Campese, the Australian contingent all captained their country at some point in their careers.
World Cup 1999 winner Gregan led the Wallabies to a 2-1 Test series victory over the 2001 British & Irish Lions, while Catchpole wore the armband in almost half his 27 Test appearances.
Five-eighth Ella, the most successful of three rugby-playing brothers, became the first indigenous player to captain Australia in any sport when he skippered the Wallabies on the 1982 tour of New Zealand.
Lawton, another No.10, steered Australia to their first whitewash of the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup campaign of 1929.
Under Thornett’s captaincy in the 1960s, Australia became the first nation in 67 years to defeat South Africa in consecutive Tests.
IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The IRB Hall of Fame recognises those who have made an indelible mark on our sport through feats on the field of play, displays of great character or through their tireless and inspirational work in driving forward our great game.
“The British and Irish Lions are an institution, a symbol of our history, our present and our future and tours to Australia have delivered bountiful unforgettable memories. These inductees, legends in their own right, have stamped their own mark on this incredible piece of rugby history.”
The IRB Hall of Fame was launched in 2006 with the induction of Rugby School and William Webb Ellis.
DR
Guest
awesome list Richard. Greats all of them!!!
richard
Guest
DR @ 8.12pm,how's this for a list : - SA - Ray Mordt,John Gainsford NZ - Kelvin Tremain,Ken Gray,Wayne Shelford Ireland - Tony O'Reilly England - Peter Jackson,David Duckham,Alexander Obolensky (technically Russian,but since he almost single-handedly dorked the 1936 AB's,I'm surprised he isn't already in there). Australia - Stephen Larkham France - Lucian Mias,J.P.Rives Scotland - Sandy Carmichael Wales - Jonathan Davies What do you think?
jeznez
Roar Guru
The Larkham story has plenty left to run. Head coach at the Brumbies now and it is very early in his coaching career. Reckon he will get there in time as well.
DR
Guest
No Larkham? For me i hope Cullen gets there. He was one of my favourites.
Lostintokyo
Guest
Mark Ella a legendary Australian captain but you are forgetting about Artie Beetson as first Australian indigenous captain.
jeznez
Roar Guru
More of a man the opposition love to hate!
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Oh Jeznez! - I see hope springs eternal:
that the judges will introduce a ”Leaning on his shovel” category!jeznez
Roar Guru
Pretty hard to argue with the group they went with. Gregan is the most capped international of all time on 139 tests. Campo was the most capped on 101 tests at the time of his retirement and when you couple his 64 test tries and his 7s exploits is impossible to leave out. Catchpole I never saw but is regarded as our greatest ever halfback Ella I briefly saw and is usually touted as our greatest ever flyhalf Thornett is reknowned as one of our greatest ever props and captains, was our second player to reach 100 caps for the Wallabies (obviously not all tests). That he had success in other sports, had one brother playing league and a third who was dual capped just adds to the legend. Finally as someone who made the same move - I have to love a guy who started as a flanker, shifted to the second row and finished at prop. Lawton had to be there so the Qld'rs wouldn't cry - never saw him but when you read descriptions of him leading the team to a 3-0 whitewash against the AB's you know he had to be something special. Of my favourite players who aren't on the list yet. I think George Smith will likely get there in time. For others like Horan I hope he'll get there. Others that I loved like Finegan won't :(
DR
Guest
Thanks Jes. Looks like you are right on the money there. Sorry, wasn't trying to sound like I was whining ;) You arnt always going to get everyone in one hit. Always enjoy a bit of discussion over who should be included ( and perhaps shouldn't ;) Any Wallabies you would like to see added?
jeznez
Roar Guru
I've really enjoyed this - have been looking up a few of the names I am unfamiliar with from the full IRB list and reading their stories - some fantastic people in this list.
jeznez
Roar Guru
When you look at the list (prior to this current set of additions) it is very select in who it has taken in. For NZ you have: Kirk and Lochore the captain and coach from 1987 Wilson Whineray who at the time of induction was the most capped captain of the AB's Teitjens due to his services to 7s Gallaher, captain of the 'Originals' Littlejohn, joint chairman and instigator of the initial RWC Lomu rugby superstar Oz was in a similar boat of very few inclusions: Farr-Jones and Dwyer from 1991 Eales and Macqueen from 1999 Shehadie, first Wallaby capped over 100 times (114 total, 30 tests), President of the ARU and one of the key architects of the Rugby World Cup begining his campaign for it back 1983 before becoming joint chair with Littlejohn The addition of a significant number of players for Oz in this round is the first breakaway from recognising key historic figures and world cup winners. I'm sure the likes of Meads will be added as soon as they start adding more players. It really appears they have been adding Lions as they go, that they added French legends with the likes of Blanco, Sella, the Boniface brothers, Prat and Mias and now this time around they added Aussie players. I think you can rest assured that NZ will gets its day for addition of key players before too long.
Maria Williams
Roar Rookie
No Mead is an insult to the truth.
Chan Wee
Guest
i think its becoz of IRB. the other award was once in 2 years and had the last one in 2007. IRB started in 2006 on an annual basis. tooo many similar awards become stagnant. its all about the money :) soon someone will claim (corporate ) ownership of the award like the cricket's (CEAT).
DR
Guest
was wondering that Chan? had a brief look but couldn't see why.
DR
Guest
Oh but they have Richard. The IRHOF is run by a charitable trust. The IRB versions is run separately and does not have Meads inducted. From a NZ perspective other notables not listed are Nepia and Allen. Its a fair list none the less. Can you spot anyone else who should be there? I was also thinking Barry John, Rives, Maso, Greyling? Uncle and RT would be useful right now......... ;)
Chan Wee
Guest
seems it ground to a halt in2007. is it becoz of the IRB hof ?
richard
Guest
Thanks for that DR.I admit I found it difficult to believe 'the tree' wouldn't be in there.I know there is no love for NZ in the hallowed halls of the IRB,but even they wouldn't be so blinkered to leave him out.
jeznez
Roar Guru
nice one DR
Magic Sponge
Guest
Well done
DR
Guest
Right. Was confused with a separate body. The International Rugby Hall of Fame ( IRHOF ) was established in 1997 and is separate to IRB Hall of Fame established in 2006. Link below - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Rugby_Hall_of_Fame Thank goodness. Thought I was going mad there for a minute ;)